Locomotive-stoker



N. M, LOWER.

Locomoxve sTokER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6, [912.

1,368,271 PatantedFeb. 15, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l! WITNESSES N. M. LOWER.

LOCOMOTIVVE STOKEB. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6. l9l2.

1,368,271. Patented Feb. 15,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

* INVENTOR N.IM. LOWER.I LOCOMOTIVE STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED GCT. I6, l9l2.

1,368,27 1 Patented Feb. 15, 921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

n. M. LOWER.

LUCOMOTWE STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. i6, l9l2'.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N. M. LOWFR.A

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6, i912.

1,368,271 Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

5 SHEETS-'SHEET 5.

\ l FIG. 1a

UNITED STATES* PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN MARPLE LOWER, OF J'ARBETTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, MOTIVE STOKER COMPANY, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

PENNSYLVANIA.

AssIGNonTo Loeo. A canyon-Arron or LOCOMOTI V .nl-STOKER.

To all Iwhom z't may colmena.'

Be it known that I, NATHAN MARBLE LOWER, a resident of Jarrettown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in Locomotive-Stokers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relaties. to locomotive stokers. One of the' objects of the invention is to provide new' and improved mechanism for automatically transferring fuel fromthe tender to the locomotive fire box, separating the line from the coarse fuel and simultaneously underfeeding the fine fuel and overfeeding the coarse fuel into the fire box.

A further object is to provide improved means for distributing fuel throughout substantially the entire extent of the fuel bed and for varying the amount of fuel fed to different parts of the lire, to thereby promote economy in consumption of fuel and secure a fire giving maximum heat efficiency.

A. further object is to provide improved means for feeding the coarse fuel into the tire box and scattering thesame over the fuel bed, said means comprising plungers arranged to throw the fuel into the fire boX with successive light-and heavy impulses, to enable the fuel to be delivered either at the front or back of the fuel bed.

Another object is to provide improved means arranged to coperate with said plunger-s andthrow the fuel laterally to one side or the other to thereby deliver it to the` sides and back corners of the fuel bed as efficiently as to other portions thereof.

A. further object is to provide in combination with automatic Stoker mechanism embodying a conveying "tube, a mechanically operated screen for separating the coarse from the line fuel, to thereby enable fuel to be respectively overfed and underfed, as heretofore stated.

A further object is to provide an improved crushing mechanism for breaking up the fuel and reducing the size of the lumps (r1-,masses thereof and delivering the same to the fuel feeding mechanism, said crusher mechanism being adjustable to permit the passage therethrough of abnormally large masses either of fuel or of foreign matter such might damage the Crusher, and per- .nit the discharge thereof from the mechanism. Other objects and advantages of the gers; F ig. 7 is Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 15, 1921. Application mea october 1e, 1912. smal No. 726,108.

invention vwill appear from the following specification.

'In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a. longitudinal section ,through a Stoker mechanism constructed accordlng to my invention, the locomotive and tender to which the same 1s applied being shown 'somewhat conventionally; Fig. 2 isa transverse section en the line 2 2,.Fig. 1, and showing the drrvlng mechanism and the elevating mechanism for the coarse fuel; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. and showlngthe conduits for underfeeding the fine fuel; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on the line 6 5, Fig. 1, and showing the fuel separating screen; Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 2, and showing one of the fuel feeding a cross section on the line 7 7, Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8 8, Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9 9, Fig. 8; Fig. 10 isan enlarged detail 'view of a steam valve, corresponding to Fig. 6, and showing the valve in-a different position; Fig. l1 is a cross section on the line 11 11, Fig. 2, and showing the regulating valve for controlling the fuel feeding plungers; Figf12 is a detail cross section, corresponding to Fig. 2, and showing elevating mechanism f or the coarse fuel adapted for use with a modified arrangement of fire boni; Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view, corresponding to Fig. 2, of the fuel elevating mechanism; Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation on the line lll- 14,v Fig.

2, and showing the grate and its shaking mechanism; Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of valve mechanism for controlling the shaking cylinder; Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section corresponding to Fig. 1 and showing the Stoker mechanism with a fuel Crusher plunconnected thereto; 'Fig. 17 is a,` transverse A section on the line 17 17, Fig. 16; and Fig.

18 is a horizontal section on the line 18-18, Fig. 17.

VThe Stoker is shown in Fig. 1 as applied to the rear of a locomotive having a deck 1 and a fire box 2, the latter being provided with the usual fire-door opening 3. Connected behind the locomotive is the usual tender 4 which carries fuel to be supplied to the fire box. The fuel carried by the tender Llever 1,0 fulcrumed at 11 and operablev large size to fit the enlarged section.

may be either the ordinary run of mine or it may be fuel especially prepared before being supplied to the tender, but in any case it generally composes both fine and coarse particles.

The fuel in the tender passes by gravity through an opening 4a in the bottom of the from being clogged, since its capacity is increased beyond the point of fuel supply.

. The screw conveyer also-acts in part as a fuel crusher. Any large lumps or masses of fuel or foreign material are caught by a shoulder 8 in the conduit and crushed under most circumstances by the action of the heavy screw conveyer, but if not crushed they may be discharged by telescoping the section 5" of the conduit into the section 5a to thereby open the conduit and allow tlie mass of slate or other hard material to drop) out. The section 5b is moved by means of links 9 connected thereto and attached to a from the locomotive cab. The sections 5 and 5 of the conduit are suitably secured together by tight rods or plates 12 secured riglidly to each section.

he course and the fine fuel are automatically separated as they are carried forward members.

by the conveyer bythe following mechanism:-

' The conduit section 5.El communicates with a rotatable cylindrical screen member 13 having a` plurality of longitudinal slots or openings 14 therein. This cylindrical member is surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve 15 also rotatable and also having longitudinal slots or openings 16 therein similar to the openings in the cylinder 13. The sleeve 15 rotates with the screen member 13 and the slots therein normally register with the slots in the member 13., The sleeve is rotatable, however, relative to the member 13 so that the size of the openings from the interior to the exterior of the conveyer may be varied. For this purpose the cylinder 13 is provided with a cam roller 17 operating in the spiral or inclined cam slot 18 in the sleeve 15. By moving the sleeve longitudinally on the Vmember 13 it rotates with reference to said member and thereby varies the relative positions of thev slots in the two The sleeve is moved longitudinally by means of a lever 19 fulcrumed at 20 and pivotally connected to a rod 21 which in turn is connected to a member 21Ll engaging an annular groove 21" in one end of the member l5. The lever 19 is held in position by a spring latch 22 which engages a notch in segment 23.

rfhe two members 13 and 1 5` together forrn a screen with openings therein which `can be variedy in size. As the fuel is carried through this screen by the conveyer the fine v pushes the fine fuel forward to mechanism which underfeeds it to the lire.

The screw conveyer 27 in the fine fuel conduit 25 is driven by the screw conveyer in the coarse fuel conduit by means of a gear V3() fixed to the shaft 6 of the screw conveyer 7 which gear meshes with a. gear 31 on the end of shaft 26 of the conveyer 27. The screen is driven from the screw conveyer 27 by means of a sprocket 32 on shaft 26 which drives a chain passing over a sprocket 34 forming a part of or attached to the section 13 of the screen. The screen rotates u pon the cylindrical end 35 of the fixed section 58L of the conveyer conduit.

The coarse fuel which cannot pass through the slots in the screen is carried forward by the conveyer 7n to an elevating mechanism which carries it up at the rear of the fire box of the locomotive to fuel injecting mechanism hereinafter described.

The elevating mechanismis shown in Fig. 2. It comprisesa pair of conduits 36 which communicate with and branch from the end of the trough or conduit 5, each of said conduits leading to one of said fuel injecting mechanisms. In the lower ends of the conduits, a central gate or deiiector 37 is pivotally mounted upon a transverse rod or shaft 38 provided with a controlling han- `which drives shaft 6, said worm gear being provided with an eccentric pin 45 having a universal connection to a rod 46, which is suitably coupled to a short arm 47 on shaft 43.

^ The bars or rods 40 are provided with a plurality of lifting vanes or paddles 48, of 130 i the type shown in Fig. 13, said vanes or paddles being pivotally connected to the bars or rods 40, as at 49, and provided on their under sides with stops or projections ,50 to engage' the bars 40 and thereby maintain the vanes or paddles in horizontal position as the bars or rods 40 rise under the.

' wardly through the fuel. 'llhe coarse fuel is fedl upwardly step by step in the conduits by the reciprocating bars and is held from sinking or retreating bythe pressure of the screw?. The rods or vanes continually lift the fuel and therefore prevent Iit from packing in the conduits, whichoften occurs with wet fuel fed upwardly by a screw conveyer.

The fine fuel which passes 'through the openings or slots 14, 16 in the rotating screen is fed forwardly by the conveyer 27 to a hollow duplex elbow having a horizontal portion connected to the conduit 25 to receive fuel therefrom and two upwardly ex` tending branch portions 5l which are formed in a member extending transversely of the ire box close to its back wall and supported at its ends upon the side rests 52 of the fire box and which takes the place of one of the usual grate bars. The inner surface of said elbow is free from sharp angles or corners, so that the 'fine fuel is forced upwardly through the branchesfl by the action and under the pressure of conveyer 27, and is fed through the grate into the fire box at both sides thereof. Preferably, a sliding gate or plate 53 is movably mounted yin ways 54 in the sides ofeach of the conduits 51 said gates or plates being independently controlled by levers 55 on shafts 56 each provided at its outer end with a controlling lever or handle 57. By moving the gates 53 11o-different positions along their ways, the amount of fine fuel .underfed to different portions of the fire box may be varied. For example,referring to Fig. 3, if both of the gates 53 are moved as close to the center grate rest 58 of the fire box as possible, more fuel will be fed along the outer vor side y walls of the lire'boxA than to its center.

With this mechanism it is therefore possible to feed the fine fuel into the back corners of the fire box. y

Worm gear 44, on the end of shaft 6, is driven by a worm 59 on the` end of a transverse shaft 60 which is rotated by a suitable engine 61-. The engine 61 may be of any type or design, but preferably such that its speed can be regulated at will by a lever or other controlling member 62. In the case' of a steam engine, which it is preferred to use in the present construction, lever 62 is connected to the governor to control the same in accordance with any ofthe well known types ,of variable speed steam ,en-A

gines. 63 represents a suitable ratchet lever connected to shaft 60. for manually rotatin the same to move the mechanism oli' dea center in starting. If the engine 61 is steam driven, its-exhaust steam, or a proper proportion 'thereof or, if desired, live steam I from the boiler, or evena jet' of water from,

the tank, is led by'suitable pipes or conduits 464 to branch pipes 65 entering the elevator conduits 36 to moisten or dampen the fuel being overfed to the tire box. This engine drives 'all of the fuel feeding mechanismv except the injecting plungers hereinafter referred to, and although it may be operated at varying speeds, the amount of its exhaust steam will always be in proportion to the amount of fuel being fed and therefore will dampen or meisten the same to the same degree under all conditions. Dampening the fuel in the manner stated prevents loss of line fuel which may have escaped the screen and is fed with the coarse fuel and which, under other circumstances, might a flange 67 on the lower end of conduit Collar 66 is of such dimensions as to permit a proper amount of up and down motion, as well as a swiveling motion of the conduit 5 with respect to conduits 36. The rear end of conduit 5 is provided with a pair of rollers 68 which move in horizontal slots 69 in a frame 70, pivoted at 7l to the bottom of the tender and having a circular projection or flange 72 at its rear end supported by and traveling in a way 73 on the tender frame. Motion of the lower conduit 25 with relation to the locomotive is taken up by a short section 74 of the conduit, which is formed of heavy corrugated metal in such manner as to be sufliciently flexible and yet durable.

Figs. 6 to 10 show in detailthe mechanism for forcing or injecting the coarse fuel into the fire box. As shown in Fig. 2 there are two such mechanisms, one on each side of the central plane of the fire box and each supplied withfuel from one of the conduits 36, which are bent or arched over the injecting plungers as at 75 and preferably provided with removable covers or doors 7 5a' to permit fuel to be introduced byvhand to the plungers or access thereto for repairs.

The fuel falls from the arched'overhanging v.io

which slides in al cylinder 78, said head being provided with a forwardly projecting scoop or shovel 79 traveling in therbottom of cylinder`78 and upon which the fuel is delivered. The casing 80 of the fuel injecting member is providedwith a steam supply passage 81 leading into a space 82 within a hollow cylinder or pipe 83 having a circular head or wall 84 at its end and on which the piston 77 travels, steam being admitted to the space 82 behind piston 77, head 76 and scoop 79 are moved 'forwardly with force and to a distance corresponding to the degree of steam pressure. The follower head 85, on the rear end of the traveling piston 77, fits neatly into an annular space 86 on the rear face of the head 84, forming a cushion stop at the end of thestroke and preventing' breakage. Steam being exhausted from passage 81, spring 87, the tension of which may be adjusted by 4screw 88, returns the head 76 and scoop or shovel 79 to original or normal position.

The force with which the piston 77 and shovel 79 are moved depends upon the steam pressure in the passage 81 or the lrate of a supply of steam thereto, which supply therefore determines the distance to which the fuel will be thrown by the plunger. 0n the outside of the casing 80 is a controlling valve shown in detail in Fig. 7 and which comprises a casing 90, continuous with or connected to casing 80 and having a hollow space or chamber 91 therein, in which slides a controlling member or valve 92 having pis-V ton heads 93, 94 at its opposite ends. Live steam from the locomotive boiler is supplied to the space 91 through an inlet valve or port 95. The opposite ends of the casing 90 are closed by threaded plugs 96, 97 having exhaust ports 98, 99 therein. Compression springs 100 are mounted between the plugs 96, 97 and the opposite piston kheads 93, 94, the tension of said springs'being such that the controlling member 92 is normally held in centralposition in the chamber, as shown in Fig. 7, in which position said springs have no initial tension.4 Leak'ports or passages 101 through the opposite piston heads 93, 94, permit boiler pressure to normally obtain in all parts of the interior chamberA 91. Whenever steam is vented from either of the ports 98 or 99 the valve 92 moves toward that end of .the casing. Assume that pressure is vented from port 98. In such case Valve 92 moves to the left in Fig. 7 This outs off the exhaust through -port 102, passage 103 and exhaust port 104,

and opens up port 105 to admit steam from the boiler to the sup-ply passage 81, thereby forcing the piston 77 forwardly. When the venting of port 98 to the atmosphere is cut off, as will be hereinafter described, pres- .sure leaks through port 101 to the rear side of the piston head 93, which then returns wheel 109.

Lessen the valve to central position and opens up the passage 102 to the exhaust port 104 and permits the piston 77 to .return to initial ppsition under the, influendefof spring 87.

port 99 is vented the-pistonV moves in the opposite direction, or to the right in Fig. 7, and pressure is admitted from the boiler to the supply passage 81 through the port 102..

As will be observed port 105 is considerably ahead or at the front of the fire box and port 98 when it is desired to merely dro it at the back of the fire box near the firig doors. 106 and 107 represent set screws threaded into the plugs 96 and'97 and arranged to form stops which limit the amount of endwise movement of the valve 92 in both directions and therefore the amount of opening of ports 105 and V102. By properly adjusting the set screws 106 and 107 the fuel may be thrown into the fire box with as much or as little vforce as desired and therefore may be distributed according to circumstances. The screws 106 and 107 may be provided with graduated heads 107 to coperate with pointers 107b to indicate the positions of the screws.

The periodic venting of ports 98 and 99 is controlled by the valve illustrated in Fig. `11, which comprises a casing 108 surroundmg shafts 60 and having a worm wheel 109 rotatable therein and driven by a worm 110 on shaft 60, said worm ,wheel having a port or passage 111 therethrough which controls the venting o ports 98 and 99. Port 99 is connected by -a pipe 112 to a port or passage 113 through an internal boss in the casing 108, which boss at its inner end con-V through member 116 rotatably adjustable 'around the axis of rotation of Worm wheel 109 and controlled by a handle lever 117. Member 116 is yieldingly pressed against the opposite side of the worm wheel 109 from the boss containing port 113 by a -spring 1163. The arrangement is suchA that as the worm wheel 109 rotates on its axis port 111 therein is brought alternately into registration with ports 113 and 115, thereby alternately venting ports 99 and 98 to the, atmosphere once during each revolution of the worm p The periods of time between the, respective ventings of ports 99 and 98 may be varied by adjusting member 116. This allows more or less fuel to accumulate in front of the plungers before either the heavy or light strokes thereof.

To assist in distributing the coarse fuel laterall over the lire bed the scoop or shovel 779m provided with a pair of wings nassen or vanes -118 pivotally mounted upon vertical axes 119 at opposite sides of the piston or plunger and having short arms 120 connected thereto, the ends of saidarms trav-- eling in grooves` or slots 121 in the wall of the casing 78 and arranged to engage stops or abutments 122 ,at the forward ends of the casing, to thereby open the arms or vanes 11,8 laterally and throw the fuel to the extreme side sheets of the lire box. 0n the .return movement of the plunger the vanes 118 contact with the forward portions of abutments 122 and the arms 120 also contact with shoulders 122, to return the arranged to deliver two jets of steam inop'posite directions. `When the port 98 is vented and the plunger receives a light impulse, steam is also admitted past the valve 124 through side passage 125 to the pipe 126 and is discharged laterally through` the branches 127 to blow thel fuel laterally in the fire box. When, however, the plunger receives a heavy impulse, under plenty of steam pressure,' the valve 124 is forced forwardly against the action of its spring 128, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 10, and thereby outs off port 125 and the admission of steam to the branches 127. The steam is therefore effective only on light strokes of the piston and is valuable in distributing the fuel to the back corners of the fire box. 128a represents a suitable stop to limit rearward movement of the valve.

Fig. 12 shows a modified form of the invention arranged for feeding the coarse fuel to a fire box provided with two fire doors 3*L on either side of its central plane. A single vertical elevator conduit 36a extends up the front wall of the fire box between' the [ire doors and is provided on its interior with a reciprocating rod or bar 40" having pivoted vanes or wings 48 thereon which lift the fuel by a step by step movement. The rod or bar 40a is eciprocated by a link member 46a connected to operating worm gear 44, as in the form of stoker heretofore described. At its upper end the rod or bar 40a is provided with a pivot engaging lengthwise slots in the arms 130 of a palr of bell crank levers pivoted at 131 .and having their opposite arms 132 pivotally connected to rods or bars 133 which reciprocate in the two horizontal branches 134 of conduit through which the fuel is fed to the oppositely disposed injecting plungers. Pre erabl-y, a manually controlled. vane or deiiector 135 is mounted upon a rotatable shaft 136 above the conduit 36 and the said vane or gate is adapted to be'plaoed in different positions lto defleet more or less of the fuel to one side or the other as desired.

Figs. 16, 17 and; 18 illustrate my improved stoker mechanism equipped with crushing mechanism for reducing the fuel to the proper size to secure the greatest economy in consumption. As shown, the variable speed engine 61a rotates a shaft 140 through universal joints 1'41 and telescoping connection 142, to permit relative movement between the tender and locomotive. Said shaft 140 is connected by bevel gears 143 to a transverse shaft 144 having a pair of worms^145, 146 thereon, said worms being connected to drive worm gears 147. 148 on the shafts of a pair' of crushing rollers 149 and 150, said rollers being mounted in the bottom of the tender and arran ed to receive the fuel therein by gravity. T e threads on the worms 145. 146 run in opposite directions so that .the crushing rollers turn t0- ward each other and the crushing rollers are provided on their cylindrical outer surfaces with teeth or ribs to enable them to gra-sp and crush the larger masses or lumps of fuel. Preferably, one of the crushing rollers is adjustably mounted to be movable toward and from the other roller so vthat whenever an abnormal lump or mass of fuel or foreign matter is encountered, the rolls can .be separated to permit the same to pass therebetween. As indicated the crushing roller 150 has a shaft or axis 150% the ends of which are mounted in square bearing members 15()b which slide in horizontal slots 151 in the frame, and said shaft is provided with pinions 152 meshing with fixed racks 153 therebeneath. A lever 154 is suitably connected to the shaft 150a so that it may be rotated to cause the pinions 152 tol roll along the racks 153, and worm gear 148 ,to roll on worm 146, and the bearing members 150D to slide in their slots to thereby separate the crushing rollers from each other horizontally. Shaft 144 also carries a worm lmeshing' with a worm gear 156, connected by a gimbal joint to shaft 6, which'extends therethrough, said gimbal joint permitting relative movementv between the tender and locomotive both laterally and longitudinally. Said joint comprises a hollow shaft 158 fixed rigidly to the worm gear 156 and rotating a sleeve-like yoke 159 having over which passes a chain 162 connected to a sprocket 163 to drive shaft 26 upon which is mounted the lower spiral conveyer 27.

In this form of the invention shaft6 is driven from its rear end, instead of from its front end, as in the other form described. If abnormally large masses of fuel or foreign matter are encountered by the crushing rolls, they areseparated as described, to allow the mass to pass therebetween and be discharged from the conveying conduit by operation of the telescopin section 5b thereof, as before described. he crushing rolls are mounted rigidly in the tender. Trough 5, as before stated, is pivotally connected at its front end to the lower end of the upwardly extending elevator conduit and swings freely in any direction. The weight of the trough is carried by the shaft 6, said trough being provided at its rear end with a hanger 164, forming a bearing member in which shaft 6 rotates.

Under some circumstances it is desirable to automatically shake the grate in the bottom of the fire box, to break up clinkers which might form thereon if 'the fire `were left too long undisturbed. This arrangement, however, is not essential and may be omitted if desired. rlhe grate and the shaking mechanism therefor are shown' in Figs. 2, 14 and 15 and comprises a plurality of bars or rate members 170, each of which is. mounte to oscillate on trunnions 171 working in bearing apertures in the side grate rests. Said grate members are provided with downwardly extending arms 172 all of which are connected to a bar 173 which is reciprocated by a link 174 pivotally connected thereto and'to an arm 175 rigidly connected, as by keying, to a shaft 176. Said shaft rotates in bearing arms 176a on a casing 177 which is hollowed out to form a cylinder in which operates a. piston 178 whose rod 179 is provided at its forward end with teeth 180 meshing with the teeth-of a pinion 181. Said pinion rotates loosely upon shaft 176 and is provided with a pawl or dog 182 to engage the teeth of a ratchet 183 keyed upon shaft 17 6. At each reciprocation of the piston 179 the rack 180 is moved longitudinally to an extent sufficient to rotate the shaft 17 6 through one complete revolution, thereby dog 187 engaging the teeth of a ratchet wheel 188, rotatable on shaft 189. Pressure grate members a single is admitted to the chamber 190 in which said piston slides through a'port 191 con- "nected by a pipe 192 to port 193 (Fig. 7),

through which steam is ladmitted from the passage 81 for supplying steam to the fuel injecting plungers whenever the same is actuated. Casing 184 is also formed to provide a chamber 194 which is reduced to form a valve seat for a valve 196, said valve having a. valve rod 197 projecting through the end of the casing and at its end engaged by a pivoted lever 198 arranged to be contacted by a in or projection 199 on the ratchet 188. flasing 184 is provided with a port 200 which is connected by a suitable pipe or conduit to furnish a supply of boiler steam. A second port 201, connected to the reduced portion of the chamber 194 is connected by a conduit 202 leading to port 203 in the shaker operating cylinder 177.

Whenever steam pressure is admitted to supplypassage 81 to operate the fuel injector plunger pressure is also through conduit 192 lto cylinder 184 thereby moving piston 185 against the influence ofits spring 203a and causing the pawl 187 to rotate ratchet 188. The amount of rotation of ratchet 188 may be controlled or regulated by a set screw204 in the end of the casing 184 which limits the movement of the piston 185. At each complete rotation of ratchet wheel 188 lever 198 is operated `by pin 199 to open valve 196 and admit boiler pressure from port 200 to the chamber 194 and through conduit 202 `to cylinder 177, thereby forcing the` piston 178 forward and rota-ting pinion 181 and shaft 17 6 to thereby operatev the link 174 and `the several grate members. lThe regulating screw 204 controls the periodicity of shaking of the grates. After pressure has been admitted to suddenly expand in the casing 177 and move piston 178, it gradually exhausts through 'the leak port 1772*, 'the spring 177D then returning the piston to initial position for the next operation.

The stoker mechanism described has the following advantages: In the usual types'of admitted mechanism, where all of the fuel is fedto l the fire box through vthe grate it is found in practice that the fire gradually cakes or fuses over and forms large masses of clinker which interfere greatly with combustion and render periodic thorough cleaning of the fire box necessary. Where the fuel is wholly overfed, that is, thrown or dropped upon the surface of the fire, as distinguished from underfeeding or feeding through the grate,

the draft through the fire box is so great that a large proportion of the fine fragments of fuel is drawn out through the stack unconsumed, with a consequent loss of efliciency. With my improved mechanism the fuel is both overfed and underfed. Preferably, the fuel is assorted before feeding, as by `the means shown, the carser fuel'bei ing delivered over and the finer fuel through the bed of fuel on the grate. The coarse fuel is fed tothe top surface of the re, in a dampened condition, thereby avoiding the discharge of unconsu'med fuel from the' 4points in the .fire box to equalize the consumption of fuel therein and secure an even and level bed of tire to produce the maximum number of heat units. The fine fuel is fed to the fire box close tothe fire door and the plungers for introducing or injecting the coarse fuel into the fire box are so arranged as to give alternate light and heavy impulses to the fuel and thereby distribute the same over the fire bed, the heavy strokes forcing or throwing the fuel clear to the front of the bed and the light strokes dropping it in front of the doors. The movable vanes on the plunger shovel and the lateral steam jets also assist in scattering the fuel laterally over the fire bed to thereby supply fuel to the back corners thereof. 'Moreover, the plurality of plungers gives a good distribution 0f fuel, even over verywide fire boxes in the largest locomotives; The grate shaking mechanism is used to a large extent With certain types of'fuels which are liable to cake or form clinker and assist `greatly in breaking up Vsuch masses as may form and thereby promote combustion. The crushing rolls are .not intended to reduce all of the fuel to small size, but merely to take care of such large lumps or masses as would not 'readily pass through the conveying mechanism. Usually, crushed fuel will beV 'supplied to the tender, although run of mine or varying proportions and sizes of fine and .coarse fragments may be used, if desired.

As before stated, the crushing rolls may be operated to permitthe passage of abnormally large masses which might damage the rolls and which can be then discharged from the conveying system by the operation of the telescoping section ofthe conveyer conduit. The entire mechanism, with the exception of the injecting plungers, is driven by a single variable speed engine, thereby permitting the rate of feed of fuel to all portions of the fire box to be readily controlled by the operation of a single controlling lever.

No claim is made herein to the construction of the fuel injecting plunger or of the valvular mechanism for controlling the same, such subject matter being claimed in my copending divisional applications, Serial No. 46,335, filed August 19. 1915. and Serial No. 46,336, filed August 19, 1915.

It is to be understood that the structure shown is for purposes of illustration and ne fuel to the fire A so j' means for delivering the coarse fuel to the i upper surface of the fire therein.

3. Stoker mechanism comprising in combination, adjustable means arranged to separate the fuel into varying proportions of fine and coarse fragments, means for underfeeding the fine fuel to the fire box, means 'for delivering the coarse fuel to the upper sur- 'face of the fire therein, and adjustable means for varying the amountsl of fine fuel fed to different portions of the fire box.

4. Stoker mechanism comprising in combination, adjustable means arranged to separate the fuel into varying proportions of fine and coarse fragments, means for underfeeding the fine fuel to thefire box, and adjustable means for varying the amounts of coa-rse fuel fed to different portions of thev fire box.

Stoker mechanism comprising, in combination, a fire box, a fuel screen, means for varying the mesh of the screen, means for underfeeding fine fuel from the screen into lthe fire box, and -means for overfeeding the coarser fuel passing over the screen into the fire box.

6. Stoker mechanism comprising, in combination, a fuel bin, a fire box, a conduit leading from the bin for overfeeding fuel bination, a fire box, a fuel screen, means for varying the mesh of said screen, means for underfeeding the fine fuel from said screen into the fire box, adjustable means for varying the amounts of fine fuel fed to different portions o f the fire box, and means for overfeeding the coarser fuel passing over the screen into the lire box. 1

9. Stoker mechanism comprising, in combination, a fire box, a fuel screen, means for varying the mesh o f said screen, underfeeding fine fuel from said screen into said fire box, means for overfeeding the coarser fuel passing over said screen into the fire box, theamounts of coarse fuel fed to different portions of. the fire box. Y i

10. Stoker mechanism comprising in combination, fuel separating mechanism, a conveyer for underfeeding into the fire box the fine fuel separated by said mechanism, and means for elevating the coarse fuel and arranged to discharge the. same into the fire box above the level of the fire therein.. l

11. Stoker mechanism comprising in combination, fuel separating mechanism, a conlveyer for'underfeedinginto the fire box the fine fuel 4separated by said mechanism,

rmeans for elevating the. coarse fuel and arranged to discharge the sameinto the lire box above the level of the fire therein, and connected mechanism for operating said conveyer and elevating means.

' 12. Stoker mechanism comprising in -com-l bination, fuel separating mechanism, a conveyer for underfeeding into the fire box the rfine fuel separated by said mechanism, a

conveyer for lifting the coarse fuel and arranged to deliver the vsame into the fire box I above the level of the fire bed therein, conranged nected mechanism for operating said cona variable speed steam engine for operating said mechanism, and meansv -for conducting exhaust steam from said engine to one of said conveyers to dampen the fuel therein.

13. Locomotive Stoker mechanism, comprising a fire box, a tender, a conduit for receiving fuel from said tender, a separator connected to said conduit, a lsecond conduit arranged to receive fine fuel from said first named conduit and underfeed the same to the fire box, and a conduit leading from said separator to the lire box for feeding the coarse fuel thereinto above the level of the fire.

14. Locomotive Stoker mechanism, comprising a fire box, a tender, a separating screen having openings thereinA and arto receive fuel from said tender, means for adjusting the sizes of the openings in said screen to thereby separate different amounts of fuel, a conduit for receiving fine fuel from said screen and arranged to underfeed the saine to the fire box,- and means for transferring the coarse fuel to the fire box and delivering it to the surface of the fire therein.

15. Locomotive vstoker mechanism comprising a re box, a tender, crushing mechan nism in said tender, ya separating screen arranged to receive fuel from sa1d\ crushing mechanism, and means for delivering the means for l and adjustable means for varying fuel from' said screen to said fire` box and underfeeding the fine fuel and overfeeding y l the coarse fuel thereinto.

16. Locomotive stoker mechanism coming the same thereinto, a conveyer for transferring the coarse fuel from said separating mechanism to said fire box and overfeedng the same thereinto, and common means for operating said conveyers and separating." mechanism. 17. Locomotive stoker mechansm, comprising a fire box, a tender, movablymounted crushing rolls adapted to be separatedfromy each other to pei-'mit abnormal masses to pass therebetween, manually operable means for moving said rolls relatively to each other, and. a conduit for conducting fuel to the fire box, said conduit embodying means for discharging abnormal masses therefrom.

18. Locomotive Stoker mechanism comprising a fire box, a tender, crushing rolls in said tender arranged to be separated from each other to permit abnormal masses to pass, a conduit for conducting fuel from said crushing rolls to said fire box, saidconduit embodying a telescoping section, and means for moving said conduit section to discharge abnormal masses therefrom.

19. Locomotive lstoker mechanism comprising a fire box,"a tender, a conduit for receiving fuel from said tender, a hollow separating screen open at both ends, a conveyer extending through said conduit and screen, means communicating With the open end of said screen for conducting coarse fuel therefrom and delivering the same into the3 fire box, a trough beneath said screen for receiving fine fuel therefrom, and means for conveying fuel through said trough and underfeeding the same into said fire box.

20. Locomotive stoker mechanism comprising a fire box, a tender, aconduit for receiving fuel from said tender, a hollow rotatable separating screen, a conveyer ex-` tending through said conduit and screen, means communicating With said screen for conducting kcoarse fuel therefrom and delivering the same to said fire box, a trough' beneath said screen for receiving fine fuel therefrom, a conveyer in said trough for conveying fuel therefrom and into said fire box, means for driving said conveyers, and means connected to said second conveyer for rotating said screen. Y

lf2.1. Locomotive Stoker mechanism, comprising a fire box, atender, a conduit for -receiving fuel from said tender, a rotatable separating screen, a Vertical conduit communicating with said screen, means in said vertical conduitfor lifting the fuel therein, and means for rotating said rotatable screen and for operating said fuel lifting means.

22. Locomotive stoker mechanism comprising a fire box, a tender, a hollow rotatable screen arranged to receive fuel from said "tender, a spiral conveyer in said screen for moving the fuel therethrough, a conduit beneath said screen and arranged to receive fine fuel separated thereby, a spiral conveyer in said conduit, a vertical conduit communicating withsaid screen, means in said vertical conduit for lifting the coarse fuel therein, and com-mon means for rotating said spiral conveyers and operating said lifting means. Y

23. Stoker mechanism comprising in combination, fuel separating mechanism, means for receiving the line fuel from the separating mechanism and underfeeding it to the fire box, and means for feeding t e coarse fuel to the fire box above the level of the re therein.

24. Stoker mechanism comprising in combination, fuel separating mechanism, means for conveying the line fuel from said mechanism to the fire box and underfeeding it thereinto, and means for conveying the coarse fuel from said mechanism and feeding it to the surface of the fire.

25. Stoker mechanism comprising in combination, a fire box, power mechanism for underfeeding fuelto said fire box, and separatepower mechanism coperating with said first namedmechanism for simultaneously feeding fuel into said re box above the level of the fire therein.

bination, a fire box, means for underfeeding fuel to 'said fire box, means for overfeeding fuel to said fire box above the level ofthe fire therein, means for supplying fine fuel to said underfeeding means, and means for supplying coarse fuel to said overfeeding means.

27. Stoker mechanism, comprising in combination, a fire box, mechanism for underfeeding fuel to said fire box, separate mechanism for simultaneously overfeeding fuel to the fire in said box, and power mechanism for actuating both of said feeding devices in timed relation with each other.

28. Stoker mechanism, comprising in combination, a re box, means for underfeeding fuel thereto, means for overfeeding fuel into the lire box above the level of the fire therein, means for supplying fine fuel to the underfeeding means, means for supplying coarse fuel to the overfeeding means, 4and means for actuating said underfeeding and over-feeding means in timed relation with each other.

29. In combination, a locomotive having a fire box, a tender having a fuel bin, two

conduits leading from .the bin below the.

30. Locomotive Stoker mechanism, comprising in combination, fuel separating mechanism arranged to be located beneath the decklof a locomotive tender, means for feeding the coarse fuel into the locomotive fire box, and separate power actuated means for also feeding the fine fuel thereinto.

31. `In combination, a locomotive having a fire box, a tender having a fuel bin, a screen located below the tender' deck and receiving from the bin, power actuated transfermechanism delivering from the upper face of the screen to the re box, and power actuated transfer mechanism delivering from below the screen to the fire box.

32. Locomotive Stoker mechanism comprising, in combination, a lire box, a bin, power mechanism for transferring fuel from the bin to said fire box, a motor for operating said transfer mechanism, and means conrollled by said motor for moistening the 33. Locomotive stoker mechanismy comprising, in combination, a fire box, ya fuel bin, variable speed mechanism for` transferring fuel from said bin to said fire box, and means regulated by the action of the variable speed transfer mechanism for moistening the fuel.

34. In an underfeed stoker, in combination, a grate, a conduit entering therel through, means for forcing fuel through said 26. Stoker mechanlsm comprising in com' conduit and underneath the fire on said grate, and deiiecting means for distributing the fuel` discharged throughv `said conduit to vary the amount of fuel supplied to different parts of the grate to thereby trim the fire.

35. In an underfeed stoker, in combination, a grate, i a conduit entering therethrough, means for forcing fuel through said conduit underneath the be'd of. fire on said grate, and a shiftable gate in the throat of said conduit for distributing the-fuel discharged therethrough to vary the amount of fuel supplied to different parts of ythe grate to thereby trim the fire.

36. In an underfee'd stokerin combination, a grate, a conduit entering therethrough, and a slidable plate of less area than the throat of the conduit and located transversely within the same, whereby the fuel delivered by the conduit may be variably distributed.

37. A locomotive stoker, comprising a horizontal transfer conduit, a plurality of upwardly extending conduits for receiving the fuel from said transfer conduit and provided with means for elevating the fuel to a position above the level of the fire, a deflector for controlling the relativev supplies of fuel to said upwardly extending conduits, and a lurality of devices connected tosaid upwar ly extending conduits for delivering the fuel to the fire box.

38. A locomotive stoker, comprising afire box, a .horizontal transfer, conduit, means for elevating the fuel from said conduit to a point above the level of the fire and distributing it to a plurality of points laterally thereover, means for varying the amounts of fuel supplied to different points laterally over the fire, and a plurality of devices connected to said distributing means for delivering the fuel to the fire box.

39. A locomotive Stoker, comprising a fire box, a horizontal transferconduit, means for elevating the fuel from said conduit to a point above the level of the fire and including a plurality, of conduits extending to different positions laterally above the fire, a deflector for controlling the relative amounts of fuel supplied to said lateral points, and a plurality of devices connected to said conduits for delivering the fuel to the lire box.

40. In a locomotive Stoker, in combination, a grate, a horizontal conduit located beneath the level of the grate, said conduit having two upwardly extending branches opening into opposite sides of the fire box through said grate, mechanism for forcing fuel under pressure through said conduit and said branches underneath the bed of fire on said grate, and means in each of said branches for distributing the fuel discharged therethrough to vary the amount of fuel supplied to different parts of the grate tothereby trim the tire.

41. In combination, a locomotive having a fire box, a tender having a fuel bin, a continuous conduit leading forwardly from below the fuel bin upwardly through the firing floor of the locomotive and into the fire box, a -supplemental conduit below the firstnamed conduit and delivering through the grate of the lire box, a screen in the wall of the first-named conduit delivering to the.

supplemental conduits, and conveying means within both conduits.

42. In combination, a locomotive having are box, a tender having a fuel bin, a continuous conduit leading from below the tender ioor and delivering to the re box above the bed of burning fuel, a section of such conduit comprising a revoluble screen, a conduit receiving from the screen and delivering through the grate of the lire box, and means for turning the screen section.

43. In combination, a locomotive having a fire box, a tender having a fuelbin, a conduit leading from the tender to the fire box, a section of the wall of such conduit being foraminous, a foraminous sleeve including such section, a conduit receiving from such foraminous section and leading to the lire box below the level of the fire therein, and means for advancing fuel through such conduits and for rotating the sleeve.

44. In combination, locomotive having a fire box, a tender having a fuel bin, a conduit leading forwardly from below the fuel bin. upwardly through the'firing floor of the locomotive and into the lfire box, a supplemental conduit below the first-named conduit and delivering through the grate of the fire box, a screen in the wall .of the firstnamed conduit delivering to the supplemental conduit, and a spiral conveyer within each conduit.

` 45. In combination, a locomotive having a fire box, a tender having a fuel bin, a conduit leading forwardly from below the fuel bin upwardly through the firing ioor of the locomotive and into the fire box, a supplemental conduit below the firstnamed conduitand delivering through the grate of the fire box, al screen in the wall of the first-named conduit delivering to the supplemental conduit, and conveying means within both conduits.

46. In combination, a locomotive having a lire box, atender having a fuel bin, a conduit leading from below the tender floor and deliverin to the fire box above the bed of burning fuel, a section of such conduit comprising a revoluble screen, a conduit receiving from the screen and delivering through the grate of the tire box, and means for turning the screen section.

47. In combination, a locomotive having a fire box, a tender having a fuel bin, a conduit leading from the tender to the fire box,

a section of the wall of such conduit being foraminous, a vforaminous sleeve inclosing suchsection, a conduit receiving from such foraminous section and leading to the fire box below the level of the fire therein, and means for advancing fuel through such conduits and for rotating the sleeve.

4S. In combination a locomotive having a lire box, a tender having a fuel bin, a conduit leading forwardly from below the fuel bin upwardly through the firing floor of the locomotive and into the fire box, a supplemental conduit below the first-named conduit and delivering through the grate of the fire box, a screen in the wall of the firstnamed conduit delivering to the supplemental conduit, and a spiral conveyer within each conduit'.

49. In a Stoker mechanism, in combination, a horizontal transfer conduit, means for elevating the fuel from said conduit to a point above the level of the fire and distributing the same to a pluralit of points laterally thereover, and means or varying the amounts of fuel distributed to different portions of the fire.

50. In stokermechanism, in combination,

' of the branches for distributing the fuel to a plua horizontal transfer conduit, means for elevating fuel from said conduit to a point above the level of the fire and distributing it to a plurality of points laterally thereover, y and a ,deiector for controlling the relative amounts of fuel supplied to said respective points.

5l. In Stoker mechanism, in combination, a transfer conduit arranged to elevate the fuel to a point above the level of the fire and distribute it to a plurality of points laterally thereover, anda deflector in said conduit for controlling the relative amounts of fuel supplied to sald respective points.

52. In Stoker mechanism, in combination, a transfer conduit having means for elevating the fuel to a point above the level re and having laterally extending rality of points laterally over the fire,and a deflector for varying the relative amounts of fuel supplied to said lateral branches respectively.

. V53. In Stoker mechanism, in combination,

a horizontal transfer conduit, a plurality of upwardly extending conduits receiving the fuel from said horizontalv conduit and provided with means for elevatin the fuel to a point above the Alevel of the re, and a de- 55. In locomotive Stoker mechanism, in i' combination, a single horizontal transfer conduit for transferring fuel from the tender forwardly to the locomotive, and a plurality of upwardly extending conduits receiving the fuel from said horizontal conduit,

and means arranged to elevate the fuel above i the level of the re and deliver it to a plurality of points transversely of the lire.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. I

NATHAN MARPLE LOWER.

Witnesses:

CORNELIA C. CHATFIELD, ELsm M. SMITH. 

